Birmingham has been home to many remarkable women, each finding her place in the world in different ways. Anne Heywood earned her reputation as a model, actress, and Miss Great Britain. What was the journey of this beautiful and talented woman? Read more on birminghamka.
Carnival Queen
Born Violet Joan Pretty in Handsworth, Birmingham, in 1931, Anne Heywood had dreams of becoming an actress from an early age. At 15, she joined the Little Theatre in Highbury, Sutton Coldfield, where she made her first attempts at acting. That same year, she won her first title—Carnival Queen of Birmingham University.
Many young actresses participated in beauty pageants as a way to gain exposure. Likewise, professional models often pursued careers in film, knowing that a modelling career had a limited lifespan.
At 19, Violet won her first major beauty contest, The National Bathing Beauty Competition. That same year, she landed her first film role in Lady Godiva Rides Again.
She made several appearances on British television and spent four years touring theatre productions across the country. Then, in 1950, she claimed the prestigious title of Miss Great Britain.
A New Name
After signing a contract with Rank Organisation, Violet changed her name to Anne Heywood. The new contract helped her secure acting work, even if initially she was cast in supporting roles.
Her first major role came in 1957, in the low-budget noir film Checkpoint, produced by the Danziger Brothers. However, real recognition came when she starred alongside Stanley Baker in Violent Playground. The film’s success launched a promising phase in her career. In 1959, she appeared in two more films: A Man’s Heart and Upstairs and Downstairs.
Love and Career Intertwined
On a film set in 1960, Heywood met Raymond Stross, a producer who would later become both her husband and professional collaborator. Stross frequently cast Anne as a leading lady in his projects.
One of the most controversial films of her career was The Fox, an adaptation of D. H. Lawrence’s novel. Though she did not play the lead role, her performance sparked discussion, particularly for her on-screen nudity and the film’s then-daring exploration of a lesbian relationship. Despite the controversy, The Fox was a commercial success, bringing both Heywood and Stross international attention.
Her growing reputation led to more film offers in Italy, though not every project was successful. Some roles lasted only minutes on screen.
Hollywood Beckons
Not all of Stross’s productions succeeded. For example, I Want What I Want turned out to be an embarrassing failure for him.
By then, Heywood was primarily working outside Britain, including in Hollywood. She took on the leading female role in Trader Horn, a remake of the classic 1931 film. However, the film’s release was overshadowed by comparisons to its predecessor.
Another of Stross’s productions, Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff, also flopped. The year 1979 proved particularly disastrous for Heywood, as two of her films that year performed poorly at the box office. As a result, she earned a reputation for starring in unsuccessful projects, making it harder for her to secure leading roles. After 1980, her career began to decline significantly.
Despite a fading career, Heywood continued acting until her husband’s death in 1988. The couple had been together for 28 years and had married in Switzerland. They had one son, Mark, who was a guiding force in her life. After his passing, Heywood never returned to acting.
With Stross’s death, her passion for the film industry also disappeared. However, she was not alone for long. In 1990, she married George Drouk, a former New York Attorney General. They remained together until his passing in 2021.
Anne Heywood now lives quietly in Beverly Hills, California, far from the cameras and media attention. Though she no longer resides in Birmingham or England, her homeland still remembers her as a beautiful and successful woman.